IRISH DRAMA

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 88, 13 April 1923, Page 5

IRISH DRAMA

. . "IN OLD DONEGAL." "In Old Donegal," staged by. Mr. Alleij Doone and his company at the Grand Opera House last night, borders on iiicividi'iimfl.. It h?s all the attributes —a.determined villain, a .rascally law.ye"! ■«.dashing hero, and a deserted cabin in. the .movmfciins. Yet there is a difference. There is something more, and it has been ii] providing that something that Mr. Doone has written his name indelibly in the records of the Australasian stage. ' The' pleasant atmosphere . surrounding-the plays tends to make one forget the somewhat impossible, and certainly improbable, episodes with which they'are crowded: The story.of "In Old Donegal" follows on orthodox lines. The Donovans own a farm/ "whereon live father, son, and daughter, a happy trio despite the relentless tactics at' times adopted by the head of the household. The daughter, a ch/irirting colleen,' is loved by Gerald O'Doneshue, but Mr. Donovan does npt look with favour on a match that will bring little, improvement in his daughter's social-, status. Larry, the son, loves Kate O'Doneghue, but he is careful to hide his affections until sure of XL« ftroiiiwL Haprjiness surrounds the old home/; )j,ut:;,.it.,:is:. broken, ..only ..too. soon, by flic/ s'lJivaL.'.Ufrom. London of Peter Cal!iighaiV;and! fiis son Brian, who formerly, lived in Donegal. It is said that they are back for'good! but Larry was nearer the mark when he said : "Faith; an' there back for bad.". So it proves. Callaghaii, senior, is anxious to secure Donovan's farm, and he plans that his son should marry the daughter of the house. Old Donovan falls into the plan in a hope to save the farm, but Gerald and Larry object very strongly. This leads to Larry's departure from home, out he does hot- leave the district. Disguised as Shann, a man employed by C'allaghan to carry out the more shady j portions of his work, he- returns to the surroundings of,his home, and succeeds in saving his sister from the hands of Callaghan, junior, and his father's farm from Callaghan, senior. More than that, he discovers he is heir to ;a fortune, and this paves the way to the realisation of the young lovers' dreams. The play ends as sweetly as it begins. In the role of Larry, Mr. Doone is the > spirited young Irishman to the letter. His acting is natural, and his wit is crisp. During the play he, sings "Kate O'Doneghno" and "Tunes we Lave to Hear on Paddy's Day." Miss Edna Keeley gives another excellent performance as Kate O'Doneghue, and Miss . Adele Inman, in the important role of Mary Donovan, proves h-erself to be a capable actress, possessing qualifications of a high standard. Her singing of "The Last Rose of Summer" was also very effective. Others who did well were Richard Bellairs (Gerald), Kevin Kerrigan (Morris Donovan), Charles Brown (the schoolmaster), Maurice Lynch. (a lawyer), Vincent White (Peter Callaghan), arid Ronald Riley (his son). •'ln Old Donegal" will be repeated this evening.